Barclaycard use a 'company' (non-trading, off-the-shelf) called Mercers Debt Collection Limited to break the OFT the CSA and the Fianancial Ombudsmans rules on collecting 'debts' even 'debts' based on their illegal and punitive charges.
Even when you send letters to them telling them 'not to phone, but to comminicate with you by letter' they will continue to phone, despite knowing that this is illegal. Their ill-disiplined staff will also often breach the Data Protection Protocals when someone else answers the phone and their behaviour can be aggressive and rude and designed to harass you. Be clear about your rights, it is a CRIMINAL OFFENCE if a creditor or their agent makes demands for money in such a manner that it causes the debtor or his/her family, alarm, distress or humiliation. Specifically, harassment is a criminal offence under Section 2 of The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and punishment on conviction, is six months' imprisonment and/or a level 5 fine (up to £5,000).
If they continue to phone you after you tell them they must not, but you do allow them an avenue of communication, such as writing to you, they are in clear breach of Section 40 of The Administration of Justice Act 1970 and any further incidents of this nature constitute a course of conduct, which is a criminal offence under Section 2 of The Prevention from Harassment Act 1997.
If you have had or are having problems with Mercers/Barclaycard, constant phone calls, harrassment of any other kind, blog the details here so thet the OFT, the CSA, the Financial Ombudsman and in some cases The Data Protection Officer can be sent a detailed list of complaints.
The address for Mercers Debt Collection Agency is
Mercers Debt Collection Agency
PO Box 55
Liverpool L32 8XX
Their phone number is 0870 4100387, or 0870 410 0385,
but you can also use 0800 051 0435
their fax number is 0151 5497997
Mercers Debt Collection Ltd's listings make interesting reading:
Name & Registered Office:
MERCERS DEBT COLLECTIONS LIMITED
CITYPOINT ONE ROPEMAKER STREET
LONDON EC2Y 9SS
Company No. 02550639
Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 22/10/1990
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited CompanyNature of Business (SIC(03)):7499 - Non-trading company
Accounting Reference Date: 31/12
Last Accounts Made Up To: 31/12/2006 (DORMANT)
Next Accounts Due: 31/10/2008
Last Return Made Up To: 01/10/2006
Next Return Due: 29/10/2007
Last Members List: 01/10/2006
Previous Names:
Date of change
Previous Name
10/07/1991
BARSHELFCO (NO.49) LIMITED
Mercers are full CSA Members (but clearly they have not read the CSA guidelines on harrassment (download the CSA complaints form here).
Mercers Debt Collections Ltd (Barclays Plc t/a)
Strictly Private and Confidential
PO Box 28
6th Floor
Liverpool L32 8UY
Contact: Mr P McLauglin
Phone: 0151 473 2528
Fax: 0151 5497659
Service: A Area: UK Region: NW Type: Affiliate
3 comments:
That is great info. They have been a real pain. Thank you.
Excellent undertaking! We have recently been trying to find subjects being intriguing as these. Awaiting the next article.
See that post is for September 2007. It is now September 2014 and it is still going on. I have been persecuted by letters and phone calls and threats and intimidation regarding my debt with Barclaycard. I have been in their debt since 20 years ago and they gave me loan after loan after loan whenever I got into trouble. They said it would be a new start to help clear the debt and any other debts I had. I was passed over to Mercers who did not say they were Barclaycard under another name and nothing was printed on the letter that mentioned Barclays except to say I owed them the money. It took 20 years and at last at 76 years of age I'm clear of debt with them. I made my last payment two months ago. I find the company disgusting, their tactics deplorable. I wonder how many people committed suicide or had their marriage break down or had a nervous breakdown because of these threats. I wish the financial ombudsman would order them to pay compensation to all those they have lied to over the years and who put them into debt deliberately under the pretence they were helping you. I even had insurance on the first loan which they have refused to pay and no doubt part of that debt was added to the second and third loan which became a long term debt. They are scum and do not deserve to be in business.
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